Strategic Communications and Engagement Manager

Starting Salary: The starting salary for this role will be between €54,916 and €59,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The role sits within ICOS’ management salary scale, with progression subject to ICOS’ remuneration policy, available funding and normal review processes.

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Reporting To: Executive Director
Term: 2 years, renewable subject to funding
Application Deadline: Monday 27 July 2026, 12.00 noon (Irish time)
Interview date: It is envisaged that interviews will take place in person in Dublin on Tuesday 11 August 2026

About ICOS

The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation advocating for the rights of international students in Ireland and promoting good policy and high standards in international education. 

ICOS works with international students, member organisations, government departments, public bodies, civil society organisations and international stakeholders to support the rights, wellbeing and inclusion of international students in Ireland.

ICOS also administers the Ireland Fellows Programme on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Programme supports people from participating countries to undertake postgraduate study in Ireland while contributing to wider goals in international development, leadership, capacity-building and long-term connection with Ireland.

About the Role

ICOS is seeking a Strategic Communications and Engagement Manager to lead the way ICOS communicates, engages and builds relationships with international students, member organisations, alumni, policymakers and other key stakeholders.

This is a senior management role within a small, values-led organisation. The postholder will lead ICOS’ strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, member communications, student and alumni engagement, and public profile work. The postholder will manage the communications team, ensure day-to-day communications are well planned and effective, and strengthen how ICOS listens, communicates and demonstrates its impact.

The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with excellent delivery, helping ICOS strengthen its influence, relationships and reputation while ensuring communications are clear, engaging and effective. The role requires excellent writing skills, strong judgement, confidence with digital communications tools and platforms, and the ability to translate complex issues into clear, engaging and credible communications.

The postholder will also contribute to ICOS’ work on the Ireland Fellows Programme, including through alumni communications, alumni engagement, storytelling and impact-related activity, working closely with the Programme Manager and the wider Ireland Fellows Programme team.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Strategic Communications and Public Profile

The Strategic Communications and Engagement Manager will lead ICOS’ strategic communications work, ensuring that ICOS communicates with clarity and purpose across all areas of its work. The postholder will:

• Develop, implement and review ICOS’ strategic communications and engagement approach, ensuring communications are audience-focused, timely and reflect organisational priorities.
• Strengthen ICOS’ public profile and ensure clear, consistent messaging across advocacy, membership, student information, alumni and programme work.
• Lead the development and quality assurance of written materials, including website content, newsletters, reports, statements, press materials, campaign materials, member updates and organisational communications.
• Ensure ICOS’ communications are informed by student experience, member insight, policy awareness, programme learning, relevant evidence and organisational values.
• Translate complex issues affecting international students into clear, accurate and accessible communications for different audiences.
• Draw on reports, evaluations, student experience, programme learning and organisational activity to identify insights, opportunities and stories that demonstrate and amplify the value and impact of ICOS' work.
• Support the Executive Director with public positioning, media queries, advocacy communications, briefings and stakeholder materials as required.
• Coordinate the production of ICOS’ annual report and other key organisational publications.

2. Stakeholder, Member and Student Engagement

The postholder will lead and support purposeful engagement with the people and organisations ICOS works with, including international students, member organisations, public bodies, civil society organisations and other partners. The postholder will:

• Develop creative and practical approaches to member, student and stakeholder engagement, ensuring ICOS’ communications are relevant, useful and responsive.
• Coordinate and strengthen ICOS’ student voice and participation work, including the Student Advisory Group.
• Oversee the quality and consistency of student-facing information and staff responses to routine international student queries, ensuring appropriate referral, escalation and follow-up where required.
• Work with colleagues to identify trends emerging from student queries, member engagement, stakeholder feedback, research and programme learning, and ensure these inform ICOS’ communications, advocacy and organisational learning.
• Identify opportunities to build stronger relationships and partnerships that support ICOS’ mission and strategic priorities.
• Support the Executive Director in preparing for, participating in and following up on stakeholder meetings, public engagements and strategic relationship-building.
• Represent ICOS at meetings, events and external forums, building productive relationships and identifying opportunities to advance ICOS' mission and strategic priorities.

3. Ireland Fellows Programme Communications, Alumni and Impact

The postholder will lead communications and engagement activity linked to the Ireland Fellows Programme, with a particular focus on alumni communications, storytelling and impact. This work will be carried out in close collaboration with the Programme Manager and the wider Ireland Fellows Programme team. The postholder will:

• Lead the development of a sustainable and engaging communications and engagement approach for Ireland Fellows alumni, reflecting programme priorities and resources.
• Lead and support external-facing Ireland Fellows Programme communications, including stories, updates, reports, digital content, stakeholder communications and impact-related materials.
• Oversee alumni communications across newsletters, online platforms, reports, social media and other channels, ensuring content is engaging, accurate and adaptable across ICOS’ digital communications where appropriate.

4. Communications Team, Digital Tools and Delivery

The postholder will manage relevant communications, engagement or alumni staff and ensure that ICOS’ day-to-day communications activity is well planned, coordinated and delivered to a high standard. The postholder will:

• Line-manage members of the communications, engagement or alumni team (currently two staff members), as agreed, including work planning, regular supervision, feedback, support and development.
• Oversee day-to-day communications activity across newsletters, website updates, social media, member communications and student-facing communications, ensuring work is well planned and delivered to a high standard.
• Establish and maintain clear workflows, editorial planning and content calendars across the communications team.
• Ensure effective use of communications platforms, website systems, mailing tools, social media management tools and basic analytics.
• Use audience insight, engagement data and analytics to improve communications activity and evaluate what is working.
• Quality-assure communications outputs to ensure they are accurate, accessible, audience-appropriate and aligned with ICOS’ values and priorities.
• Work collaboratively across ICOS to ensure communications and engagement support wider organisational goals.
• Maintain high standards of confidentiality, professional judgement, accessibility and data protection.

Person Specification

Management Style

The successful candidate will bring:

• A supportive, collaborative and practical management style, with the ability to provide clear direction, feedback and support to staff.
• A strong team ethic and willingness to work across a small organisation to support shared priorities.
• A commitment to high standards, combined with a developmental approach to quality assurance and team learning.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, balance strategic and day-to-day work, and make sound decisions in a busy environment.

Essential Experience and Skills 

The successful candidate will have:

• A relevant qualification in communications, public relations, journalism, public affairs, marketing, education, social policy, international development or a related area, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• A minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, advocacy communications, membership engagement, community engagement or a related area.
• At least two years’ experience managing staff, or equivalent senior supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong editorial judgement and the ability to produce, review and quality-assure clear, accurate and compelling materials for different audiences.
• The ability to translate complex issues into clear, accessible and credible communications.
• Experience planning and delivering communications across a range of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, reports and stakeholder communications.
• Strong understanding of how communications can support engagement, influence, public profile and organisational impact.
• Experience working in a policy, advocacy, rights-based, education, public service, community/voluntary or similarly mission-led context.
• Strong relationship-building skills and confidence working with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience developing communications or engagement plans and managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Good working knowledge of digital communications tools, website content management, mailing platforms, social media management and basic analytics.
• Strong judgement, discretion and ability to handle sensitive issues.
• A commitment to equality, inclusion, student rights, social justice and/or international education.

Desirable Criteria

The following would be an advantage:

• Knowledge of international education, higher education, migration, student rights, international development or related areas.
• Experience working with students, alumni, migrant communities or people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Experience with media relations, public affairs or advocacy communications.
• Experience with alumni engagement, community-building, membership engagement or network development.
• Experience using audience insight, engagement data, research, casework trends or lived experience to inform communications and engagement.
• Experience supporting events, campaigns, stakeholder consultations or participatory engagement processes.

Other requirements 

• The role will involve occasional travel within Ireland for meetings, events and stakeholder engagement.
•  Some evening and occasional weekend work may be required to support meetings, events and organisational activities. Time off in lieu will apply in line with ICOS policy.

Staff Benefits

• Flexible working hours and hybrid working arrangements.
• Access to ICOS’ health insurance scheme following completion of a 6-month probationary period.
• Attractive pension and income protection scheme for staff.
• Annual leave of 22 days per year, plus additional paid leave over the Christmas period.
• Ongoing staff training and development opportunities.

How to Apply 

Deadline: Monday 27 July 2026, 12.00 noon Irish time

To Apply: Email CV (2-page max) and cover letter (1 page max) in one PDF document to recruitment@icosirl.ie 

Name the PDF file: Your Name – Position Title. 

Interviews: It is envisaged that interviews will take place in person in Dublin on Tuesday 11 August 2026.

ICOS is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes suitably qualified applicants from all sections of society. We will make reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities during the recruitment process. Candidates who require reasonable accommodation are invited to contact recruitment@icosirl.ie in confidence.

Further information for candidates:

Irish Council for International Students: www.internationalstudents.ie

Ireland Fellows Programme: https://www.ireland.ie/en/ireland-fellows-programme/